Boone Wallops Rival Crockett; Slagle Arrives in Time to Pace Unicoi; Volunteer Sweeps West Greene; Cherokee, Elizabethton Split Series
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
March 15, 2023
Daniel Boone made a large statement on opening day, ripping rival David Crockett at Warren Miller Park and Lucas Slagle arrived back in the area in time to pitch and hit Elizabethton past Unicoi County in a Upper Lakes Conference contest Wednesday evening.
Elsewhere, In a doubleheader delayed by one day while Volunteer’s basketball team participated in the state tournament, the baseball Falcons opened the 2023 season with a doubleheader sweep of West Greene while Cherokee and Elizabethton split a season-opening series with the each side holding the home field serve.
Daniel Boone 15, David Crockett 1
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. – East Tennessee State University signee Brogan Jones led off the game with a home run and the ‘Blazers erupted for a dozen runs in the second inning to lead 13-0 after two.
On the hill, Aiden Roller started and went four innings, allowing four hits, striking out nine and walking none.
Eight different ‘Blazers drove in runs on the run with Tim McGonigle the only to drive in more than one, finishing with two RBI’s and two runs scored.
Griffen Jones and Trent Orth both finished 3-for-4 with a run driven in while Chandler Justice compiled a 2-for-4 worksheet.
The teams will meet again in Gray on Thursday.
Daniel Boone | 1(12)1 | 10 | -- | 15 | 13 | 2 | |
David Crockett | 000 | 10 | -- | 1 | 4 | 5 |
W – Aiden Roller, L – Hendrix. 2B – Rary, David Crockett. HR – Brogan Jones, Daniel Boone (). RBI – David Crockett 1 (Rary). RBI – Daniel Boone 9 (Tim McGonigle 2, Jake Davenport, Luke Hurd, Brogan Jones, Griffen Jones, Chandler Justice, Trent Orth, Slader Tinker). DP – David Crockett. LOB – Daniel Boone 6, David Crockett 6.
Unicoi County 12, Elizabethton 2
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – Slagle tossed four innings allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out eight and walking two. At the dish, Slagle collected two hits, including a double and drove in two runs.
Brayden Hendrickson also doubled and two in two runs with leadoff hitter Chris Chavez scoring on all four trips.
Elizabethton got RBI’s from Peyton Johnson and Hayden Nave.
Unicoi County | 104 | 115 | -- | 12 | 11 | 1 | |
Elizabethton | 002 | 000 | -- | 2 | 4 | 3 |
W – Lucas Slagle, L – Peyton Johnson. 2B – Unicoi County 2 (Brayden Hendrickson, Lucas Slagle), Elizabethton 3 (Bryson Rowland, Peyton Johnson, Rhett Slagle). RBI – Unicoi County 8 (Lucas Slagle 2, Brayden Hendrickson 2, Chris Chavez, Valentin Batrez, T. Bey, Nicky Satterly), Elizabethton 2 (Peyton Johnson, Nayden Nave). SB – Unicoi County 2 (Chris Chavez, A. Green). DP – Elizabethton. LOB – Unicoi County 8, Elizabethton 5.
Volunteer 7, West Greene 5 – Game 1
CHURCH HILL, Tenn. -- Five different players drove in runs and Landon McIntosh came within two out of a complete game victory in the opener.
McIntosh fanned five in 4 1/3 innings of work with Gavin Hickernell coming in to get the final two outs for the save.
Colby Lawson collected a pair of RBI’s and Isaiah Bowery a pair of hits. Austin Williams and Zach Justice also brought in Falcon runs.
Volunteer 12, West Greene 2 – Game 2
CHURCH HILL, Tenn. -- Peyton Steele did go the distance in game two allowing just one hit, one earned run and striking out four.
Lawson drove in three runs, Bowery two and Justice one in the nightcap.
Cherokee 7, Elizabethton 5
ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. – The Chiefs roped three homers, including two by Gage Adkins, to claim the victory over the Cyclones at the Reservation.
After Elizabethton had grabbed a two-run lead in the top of the first, Cherokee plated four in the bottom half, including a two-run shot by Brady Leroy. Adkins later connected for solo shots in the second and fourth innings, finishing the day 3-for-3.
On the hill, Parker Travis battled through 108 pitches to go the distance, scattering seven hits and striking out three while also going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Aiden Webb finished 3-for-3 as well for the Chiefs.
Elizabethton | 201 | 000 | 2 | -- | 5 | 7 | 2 |
Cherokee | 410 | 101 | x | -- | 7 | 12 | 4 |
W – Parker Travis, L – Wesley Shankles. HR – Brady Leroy, Cherokee (one on in 1st); Gage Adkins, Cherokee 2 (solo in 2nd, solo in 4th); Rhett Slage, Elizabethton (one on in 7th). RBI – Elizabethton 4 (Rhett Slagle 2, Steven Meadows, Brilee Hurley), Cherokee 5 (Gage Askins 2, Brady Leroy 2). SB – Peyton Johnson, Elizabethton; Aidan Webb, Cherokee. DP – Cherokee. LOB – Elizabethton 5, Cherokee 8.
Elizabethton 6, Cherokee 3
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – Rhett Slagle struck out eight allowed only three hits in five shutout innings as the Cyclones salvaged the split at Northeast Federal Credit Union Ballpark.
Bryson Rowland entered in the sixth and closed out the win despite seeing the Chiefs score three unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Rowland also drove in two runs for the Cyclones.
Kaleb Hambrick added a two hits and two runs scored and Hayden Nave went 2-for-3 for Elizabethton.
For Cherokee, Jake Elliott was 3-for-4 and Keaton Lawson 2-for-3 with a run batted in.
Cherokee | 000 | 000 | 3 | -- | 3 | 7 | 2 |
Elizabethton | 100 | 500 | x | -- | 6 | 8 | 1 |
W – Rhett Slagle, L – Brady LeRoy, S – Bryson Rowland. 2B – Elizabethton 2 (Kaleb Hambrick, Hayden Nave). RBI – Cherokee 2 (M. Emery, K. Lawson), Elizabethton 4 (Bryson Rowland 2, Wesley Shankley, Hayden Nave). SB – Cherokee 3 (Jake Elliott 2, Keaton Lawson). LOB – Cherokee 5, Elizabethton 5.